THK HORSE, ITS DISEASES. 357 



X. Spasm of the Diaphragm. 



Causes. — Hard riding or driving of a horse constitutionally weak. 



How to know it. — If the horse is being ridden, there will be a sensa- 

 tion to the rider as though a sudden blow was given inside the horse. 

 This is from spasmodic action of the diaphragm (the midriif or muscle 

 separating the chest from the abdomen) in drawing the breath. If the 

 animal is still driven forward it sometimes suddenly falls and dies oi 

 suffocation. 



What to do. — There is no cure. Relief may be given by clothing tlie 

 animal. Lead him to the nearest stable or shed and give the following : 



No. 108. 3 Drachms aromatic spirits of ammonia, 



3 Drachms tincture of ginger 

 8 Ounces laudanum, 

 l>i Ounces ether. 



Mix in a pint of oil or gruel and give as a drench, or give the folio mng ' 



No. 109. yi Drachm camphor, 



1 Drachm powdered ginger, 



1 Drachra carbonate of ammonia. 



Mix with sufficient linseed meal and hot water to form a ball. Repeat 

 ut an interval of three hours if relief is not afforded by the first dose. 



A horse subject to this affection should have only slow work. Thd 

 diaphragm may be strengthened by giving for some time a daily dose of 

 one drachm of powdered sulphate of iron in the food. 



XI. Bupture of the Stomach. 



Rupture, when it ensues, ends pretty surely in death. Rupture of the 

 fitomach is produced by working or driving a horse until he is very hungry 

 and then feeding and watering unduly. The only symptoms which show, 

 are violent colic, and the tenseness of the tissues. There are many rup 

 tures where animals die, and the owner does not know what is the diffi 

 culty. If the mischief has proceeded to rupture, the animal may as weL 

 1)0 killed. 



One of the positions assumed by a horse suffering from abdorainai 

 injuries, is this : He will persistently sit on his haunches. Animals 

 will assume this position and yet occasionally recover. Another position 

 assumed is, for the animal to kneel and support himself upon his bkif 



L, 



